Impatiens plant named &#39;Fify Lave07&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by single, violet flowers, compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit, free flowering, good basal branching, and moderately vigorous growth habit, is described.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Impatiens walleriana

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Fify Lave07’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Fify Lave07’. The new cultivaroriginated from a hybridization made in August 2003 in Andijk, TheNetherlands. The female parent was the proprietary violet floweredImpatiens plant ‘IMW-776-4’ (unpatented), while the male parent was theproprietary violet with white eye flowered Impatiens plant ‘IMY-31-3’(unpatented). The seeds produced by the hybridization were sown inNovember 2003. A single plant selection was chosen for furtherevaluation and for asexual propagation in February 2004.

The new cultivar was created in 2003 and has been asexually reproducedrepeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture in Andijk, TheNetherlands, Hillschied, Germany and Gilroy, Calif. over a two yearperiod. The plant has also been trialed at Gilroy, Calif., Andijk, TheNetherlands and Hillscheid, Germany. The present invention has beenfound to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have been applied for in Europeon Nov. 13, 2006.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Gilroy, Calif. and Andijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1. Single, violet flowers;    -   2. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant        habit; and    -   3. Free flowering, good basal branching and moderately vigorous        growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliageof the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a wholeplant about 9 to 10 weeks old, grown in a greenhouse in Hillscheid,Germany during the spring. The photograph was taken in May 2006 andshows the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Fify Lave07’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inGilroy, Calif. in a spring trial setting. The plant history was taken on20-week-old plants grown in 8-inch fiber display pots in a greenhouse inthe early spring. The plants had one plant growth regulator and oneterminal pinch after cuttings were transplanted. Color readings weretaken under natural light in the greenhouse. Color references areprimarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Societyof London (R.H.S.) (2001). Texture description data was viewed with adissecting microscope.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.        -   Botanical.—Impatiens walleriana.        -   Common name.—Impatiens.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘IMW-776-4’ a proprietary violet flowered            Impatiens plant (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘IMY-31-3’ a proprietary violet with white eye            flowered Impatiens plant (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Form.—Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounded            plant habit.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Free flowering, good basal            branching, moderately vigorous, pinching of the terminal            apices enhances branching.        -   Height (from soil level to top of blooms).—10.0 cm to 12.0            cm.        -   Width (including flowers).—20.0 cm to 22.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 8 to 10            weeks for a 4-inch pot.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use in shade to semi-shade, use            in hanging baskets, mixed containers, window boxes and mass            plantings.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—Approximately 10 to 21            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, white.-   Branches:    -   -   Stem.—Color: Closest to RHS 144C Length: 14.0 cm to 18.0 cm            Diameter: 0.5 cm Internode length: 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm Texture:            Smooth, glabrous Anthocyanin: Only in the older nodes of            stems; closest to but a muted hue of RHS 175A.        -   Peduncle.—Color: Closest to RHS 144C Length: 1.3 cm to 1.4            cm Diameter: 0.15 cm Texture: Smooth, glabrous.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 1.6 cm to 1.8 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Color:            Closest to RHS 144C Texture: Smooth, glabrous.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, whorls.        -   Size.—Length: 2.5 cm to 2.8 cm Width: 1.5 cm to 2.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical to broadly elliptical (almost ovate).        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Crenate, with ciliation.        -   Color (both immature and mature).—Upper surface: Closest to            RHS 137A Lower surface: Closest to RHS 138B.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation color.—RHS 144C basally, and becoming            indistinguishable within the leaf itself.        -   Petiole.—Length: 0.7 cm to 2.5 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm            Texture: Smooth, glabrous Color: RHS 144C.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Size.—Length: 0.7 cm to 0.8 cm Diameter: 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm.        -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 69C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous and freely all through the year.        -   Type.—Racemes in leaf axis and in leaf whorls.        -   Number of flowers per lateral branch.—30, including buds.        -   Lastingness of the individual blooms on the plant.—About 5            to 7 days in the greenhouse.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Flowers:    -   -   Form.—Single.        -   Corolla size.—Width: 2.6 cm to 2.8 cm Depth: 2.7 cm to 2.8            cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Number of petals per flower.—5; 1 standard, dorsal (free); 2            lateral or lobed pairs (wing petals) deeply lobed.        -   Dorsal.—Length: 1.0 cm Width: 1.2 cm to 1.4 cm Shape:            Broadly obovate Apex: Slightly emarginate Color: Immature:            Upper surface: Lightly mottled, and lighter than RHS 75A            Lower surface: RHS 76C, with a keel of RHS 143C Mature:            Upper surface: Closest to RHS 76B but with a little more            pink Lower surface: RHS 76C with a keel of RHS 143C.        -   Lateral.—Length: 1.2 cm to 1.4 cm Width: 0.9 cm to 1.0 cm            Shape: Obovate Apex: Slightly emarginate Color: Immature:            Upper surface: RHS 75A with a slight spot of RHS N78A and            RHS 155C basally Lower surface: RHS 76C Mature: Upper            surface: RHS 75A with small spots of RHS N78A and RHS 155C            basally Lower surface: RHS 76C.        -   Base.—Attenuate to fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—3; 1 larger than the others with a spur.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Large sepals.—Color: Closest to RHS 155C Length: 0.6 cm to            0.8 cm Width: 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm Shape: Ovate Apex: Acute            Base: Fused Margin: Entire Spur: Color: Lighter than RHS 1D            Length: 2.5 cm to 2.7 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm.        -   Small sepals.—Color: RHS 43B Length: 0.2 cm Width: 0.1 cm            Shape: Lanceolate Apex: Acute Margin: Entire Base: Fused            Texture: Smooth, glabrous.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen.—5; more or less fused by the anthers, and covering            the ovary.        -   Anther length.—0.2 cm.        -   Anther color.—RHS 58A.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Pistil.—1.        -   Pistil length.—0.3 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 155A.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 147A.-   Fruit and seed set: Seed set not observed-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Fify Lave07’ differs from the female parent ‘IMW-776-4’ in that ‘FifyLave07’ has a smaller flower size and a more compact plant habit than‘IMW-776-4’.

‘Fify Lave07’ differs from the male parent ‘IMY-31-3’ in that ‘FifyLave07’ has a smaller flower size and a different flower color than‘IMY-31-3’. Additionally, ‘Fify Lave07’ has a more compact plant habitand is more free-flowering than ‘IMY-31-3’.

‘Fify Lave07’ differs from the commercial cultivar ‘Balpixropi’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 15,213) in that ‘Fify Lave07’ has a lighter bud colorwith a lighter violet flower color than ‘Balpixropi’. Additionally,‘Fify Lave07’ has darker green pedicles and lighter green foliage with alonger spur than ‘Balpixropi’.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant as shown and describedherein.